Washington Wizards And Caps To Say Goodbye To D.C., Heading To Virginia

The owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals is moving forward with plans to transition the teams out of D.C. and into the Northern Virginia neighborhood of Alexandria.

The Washington Wizards and Capitals could potentially no longer play in the nation’s capital. The owner of the D.C.-based teams has made a formal agreement to begin planning the sports franchises’ move to Alexandria, VA.

The news was reported by NBC Washington on Dec. 13, with a $2 billion deal at stake for the teams to officially play in the northern Virginia neighborhood, part of the “DMV’ area. The choice to transition the basketball and ice hockey teams across the Potomac River was made despite D.C. lawmakers’ proposition to renovate the current arenas.

Ted Leonsis, the owner of Monumental Sports and Entertainment company, released a statement on the new futures of the teams.

“When we first came out here and I saw 70 acres and the ability to start with a clean slate,” Leonsis said, “and imagine what would an arena 30 years from now need to be built and be served, and to build a digital-first experience, it really is a very, very romantic but also pragmatic vision that we have, that we can’t do anywhere else. This place for people is one-of-a-kind.”

With the inclusion of the new home, Leonsis is teaming up with Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin to develop an entertainment district in the area that would create a “world-class” experience for attendees. Not only is the development boasting nine million square feet, but it also boasts a new arena and headquarters for Monumental, in addition to a performance venue and esports facility.

However, despite its positive benefits for Virginia, D.C. would suffer from losing not just one but two major sports teams within its city lines. Without the droves of fans coming into the 20,000-seat arena throughout the year, the district could be without a longstanding influx of guests and revenue. D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser remains optimistic that the teams will remain in their home city.

“We have been responsive to Monumental throughout our process and we have negotiated with, in good faith, with them over the last several months,” Bowser said to reporters. “We know it’s the best for the city, and, quite frankly, we think it’s the best for the entire DMV.”